Rotary type electric razor



March 19, 195 7 V. DE LALLA, SR

ROTARY TYPE ELECTRIC RAZOR 2 SheetsSheet 1 Filed Feb. 21. 1955 INVENTORATToRzyBf March 19, 1957 V. DE LALLA, SR

ROTARY TYPE ELECTRIC RAZOR 2 Shets-Sheet 2 Filed Feb. 21, 1955 INVENTORZ Z a S7"- ATTORNEY Uite States This invention relates to a rotary typeelectric razor of relatively simple construction having .a substantialshaving area and which, due to unique structural features thereof,enables the user to shave much closer than with other types of electricshavers.

A further object of the invention is to provide a novel construction ofhousing or reinforcing member for surrounding a guard or screen of theelectric razor and which will enable the use of a screen having a verythin wall for close shaving and which will prevent the screen from beingdeformed or bent.

A further object of the invention is to provide an electric shaverwherein a housing or reinforcing member will additionally cooperate withthe guard or screen for stretching the skin of the face where itcontacts the guard or screen.

Still another object of the invention is to provide an electric shaverhaving a blower means for expelling the clippings therefrom and whichadditionally functions as a suction means for drawing the whiskersinwardly through the guard or screen into a position to be cut.

A further object of the invention is to provide a rotary type electricrazor which may be readily assembled and dismantled and having aplurality of easily replaceable cutter blades which are yieldablymaintained in engagement with the inner side of the guard or screen forcoaction therewith in executing a shearing cut when the blades arerotated.

Various other objects and advantages of the invention will hereinafterbecome more fully apparent from the following description of thedrawings, illustrating a presently preferred embodiment thereof, andwherein:

Figure l is a side elevational view of the electric razor;

Figure 2 is an enlarged fragmentary longitudinal sectional view, partlyin elevation, thereof, taken substantially along a plane as indicated bythe line 22 of Figure 1;

Figures 3 and 4 are cross sectional views of the electric razor, takensubstantially along planes as indicated by the lines 33 and 4-4,respectively, of Figure 2;

Figure 5 is a fragmentary elevational view of a portion of thecylindrical guard or screen, shown removed from the razor;

Figure 6 is an elevational view of the housing or reinforcing member,shown removed from the razor, and

Figure 7 is a fragmentary detail sectional view, taken substantiallyalong a plane as indicated by the line 7-7 I of Figure 2.

Referring more specifically to the drawings, the electric razor in itsentirety and comprising the invention is designated generally 10 andincludes a high speed electric motor 11 the housing 12 of whichconstitutes the handle of the razor 10. A conventional electric cord 13,only a fragment of which is shown, extends from the motor 11 and isadapted to be connected to a conventional electric outlet for supplyingelectric current to the motor. One end of the motor housing 12 isprovided with an outwardly atent 2,785,461 Patented Mar. 19, 1957projecting relatively large annular externally threaded boss 14. Thearmature shaft 15 of the motor 11 extends into the cavity of the boss 14and is loosely disposed therein, as seen in Figure 2.

The shaving head or" the razor 10, designated generally 16, includes ahousing or reinforcing member 17 of substantially circular crosssection, as best seen in Figures 3 and 4, having an annular externallythreaded outer end portion 18 and an annular internally threaded socketportion 19 defining the inner end thereof. The housing portions 18 and19 are connected by a bar portion 20, the ends of which are formedintegral with the end portions 13 and 19 and the width of whichconstitutes an arc of about as best seen in Figure 3. As seen in Figure3, the bar portion 20 is of arcuatecross section and has a concave innerside. A circumferentially extending band portion 21 is disposedintermediate of the ends of the housing 17 and has end portions mergingintegrally with the longitudinal side edges of the bar 20, intermediateof the ends thereof. The band 21 on its outer side is provided with acircumferentially extending rib 22 which is convexly rounded in crosssection and which preferably extends transversely across the bar portion29. The housing 17 also includes a pair of longi: tudinally extendingrelatively narrow reinforcing strips 23, the outer sides of which areconvexly rounded in cross section, as seen in Figure 3, similar to therib 22. The strips 23 thus form longitudinally extending ribs, theintermediate portions of which merge integrally with thecircumferentially extending band 21 and the ends of which mergeintegrally with the end portions 18 and 19. The longitudinally extendingribs 23 are spaced substantially equal distances from the bar 20 and arelikewise spaced substantially distances from one another. As best seenin Figure 2, the socket 119 has an inner wall 24 provided with arelatively large central opening 25 in which is mounted a bushing 26.

The socket 19 threadedly engages on the boss 14 for mounting the housing17 detachably on the motor casing 12, .as illustrated in Figures 1 and2. A shaft 27 extends axially through the housing 1'7 and has one endportion thereof journaled in the bushing 26. Said shaft end is providedwith an outwardly opening notch 28 to receive a restricted terminalportion of the armature shaft 15 which forms a tongue 29 for couplingthe shafts 15 and 27 together for rotation as a unit.

The shaft 27 has a pair of spiders 30 secured thereto in longitudinallyspaced relation to one another, in any suitable manner as by means ofpins 31 which extend through hubs 32 of the spiders 30 and through theshaft 27. Each spider 30 has a plurality of arms 33 which extendradially therefrom and which are circumferentially spaced relative toone another. In the embodiment of the invention as disclosed, eachspider 30 is shown provided with four arms 33 which are equally spacedcircumferentially from one another. However, each spider 30 may beprovided with two or more arms 33. The arms 33 of the two spiders Eliare arranged in longitudinal alignment. Each arm 33 has a groove 34extending longitudinally thereof and which opens through an inner faceof said arm and through the outer part thereof, as best seen in Figures2 and 3. An outer ungrooved portion 35 of each arm 33 extends to beyondthe outer end of the inner groove portion 34 and has an arcuate surface36 defining the outer end thereof.

A blower 37 is mounted on the shaft 27 beyond the spider 30 which islocated remote from the notched shaft end 28. The blower 37 includes ahub 38 which is secured by a pin 39 to the shaft 27. The blower 37includes a plurality of blades 40 which project outwardly from the hub38and all of which are pitched in the same direction, as seen in Figure 4.

The spiders 30 and the blower 37 are loosely disposed in the housing 17and portions of the blower 37 extend outwardly from the housing end 18.A thin walled metal cylinder or tube 41 is disposed snugly within thehousing 17 and has an inner end abutting against the transverse wall 24of said hOLlsing and an opposite end which is disposed substantiallyflush with the outer end of the threaded housing portion 18, as seen inFigure 2. The ends 36 of the spiders 30 have a relatively close fittingworking en'- gagement in the tube or cylinder 41, as seen in Figures 2and 3, and the outer edges of the blades it are spaced inwardly from thetube ill to provide ample working clearance, as seen in Figure 2. Thetube 41 is provided with a series of slots 42, preferably arranged incircumferential rows and wherein the individual slots 42 are disposeddiagonally of the axis of the tube 41.

Each of the aligned pair of arms 33 of the two spiders 30 supports ablade 43 which fits slidably between the outer ends of the portions 35of said arms and which has a narrow back or inner edge portion 44, theends of which fit slidably in the grooves 34 whereby the blades 43 areslidably movable radially of the arms 33. An elongated spring 45 isassociated with each of said pair of aligned arms 33 and the bladesupported thereby and includes an inwardly bowed intermediate portion46, the intermediate part of which bears against the shaft 27, andaligned end portions 47 which bear against the inner face of the bladepart 44 and the ends of which slidably engage in the grooves 34, as seenin Figures 2 and 3. Thus, the blades 43 are yieldably urged radiallyoutward of the spiders 30 and are yieldably held in engagement with theinner side of the cylinder 41. The outer or head portions of the blades43, which are wider than the shank portions 44, have outer surfaces 48which are slightly bowed convexly in cross section to conformably engagethe inner face of the cylinder 41. The longitudinal edges 49 thereofconstitute the cutting edges of said blades 43.

A pair of relatively thick substantially rigid retaining rings 50 areremovably disposed in the guard or screen 41 and fits snugly therein.One of said rings is disposed in the inner end of the guard 41 betweenthe Wall 24 and the spider 3h disposed adjacent thereto. The other ringengages the guard between the blower 3'7 and the other spider 39, whichis located adjacent said blower.

The head 16 also includes a cap 51 having an internally threaded openinner end 52 which threadedly engages on the housing portion 18 andwhich provides an annular outwardly facing shoulder 53 which abutsagainst the outer end of the housing portion 18 and against the end ofthe cylinder 41 which is disposed therein. The end wall 54 of the 'cap5i has a central opening containing a bushing 56 in which the outer endof the shaft 27 is journaled and which abuts against the hub 38 of theblower 37 to maintain the notched inner shaft end 28 in coupledengagement with the tongue 29. The cap 51 constitutes a partial housingin which the blower 37 is rotatably disposed and its wall 54 hasopenings 57 constituting outlets for the blower 37.

It is to be understood that the electric razor it is illustrated in thedrawings, including Figure l, substantially larger in size thanits'actual size. It is also to be understood that the thickness ofcertain of the parts such as the guard or screen 41 has beensubstantially exaggerated, as the wall of the cylinder forming saidguard or screen 41 is very thin so that a very close shave can beobtained. It will also be noted that substantial areas of the guard orscreen 41 are exposed between the band 21 and the .ribs 23 and betweensaid ribs and the side edges of the bar 20, all of which exposed areasof the screen 41 constitute usable shaving areas. The armature shaft 15and the shaft 27 are adapted to be driven at a speed of approximately4000 R. P. M. in a counterclockwise direction, as seen in Figures 3 and4.

The screen or guard portion 41' located between the ribs 23, band 21 andbar 20 may be selectively placed inwardly through the slots 42 for thusexpelling the clippings from the head 16. This suction in the slots 42additionally functions to draw the whiskers or hairs mwardly throughsaid slots to be more readily sheared off by the cutting edges 49. Saidcutting edges 49 are mainrained sharpened by their contact with thesmooth highly polished interior face of the cylinder 41.

The housing or reinforcing member 17 provides an ample reinforcement forthe screen or guard 41 so as to prevent it from being bent or distortedand so that said screen or guard may be of a minimum thickness to obtainthe closest possible shave. In addition, the housing or reinforcingmember 17 further assists in enabling the shaver It; to produce a closeshave in that the ribs 22 and 23 are adapted to be pressed against theface so that portions of the skin of the face located between said ribsand the longitudinal edges of the bar 2i) will be stretched and willintend to protrude outwardly into tight engagement with the exposedareas of the screen 41 so that the whiskers or hairs will more readilyproject from said skin portions through the slots 42 to be cut off asclose as possible to the skin.

The razor it, constitutes a dry shaver which is rendered self-cleaningby the blower 37 so that said razor does not require cleaning. However,the head 16 can be quickly and easily disassembled for replacing theblades 43 and which" operation only requires removal of the cap 51, thereinforcing ring 59 located adjacent thereto and the parts carried bythe shaft 27.

Various modifications and changes are contemplated and may obviously beresorted to, without departing from the spirit or scope of the inventionas hereinafter defined by the appended claims.

I claim as my invention:

1. In an electric razor, a cutter head including a rotary driven shaft,a plurality of cutter blades, means fixed to said shaft and supportingsaid cutter blades in radially spaced relation to the shaft and incircumferentially spaced relation to one another and for slidingmovement radially on the shaft, ahollow cylindrical perforated guarddisposed around the cutter blades, supporting means mounting said guardimmovably relative to the blades, and spring means individual to saidblades for urging outer edge portions of the blades into conformableengagement with theinterior face of said guard for cooperation with theperforations of the guard for executing a cutting operation When thebladesare revolved within the guard, said last mentioned guardsupporting means comprising an elongated housing of openworkconstruction having a plurality of relatively large openings throughwhich substantial areas of said guard are exposed, bearings supported bysaid housing and journaling end portions of said shaft, and said housinghaving ribs provided with outer surfaces of arcuate cross sectiondefining boundaries of the openings thereof and constituting skinstretching means for cooperation with adjacent exposed areas of theguard.

2. In an electric razor as in claim 1, said housing having an innersocket end adapted to be detachably secured to an end of. a motorhousing forming the razor handle for detachably mounting the cutter headthereon.

3. In an electric'razor as in claim 1, said guard being of a thin wallconstruction conformably fitting in and being reinforced by saidhousing, the perforations of said guard comprisingelongated slotsdisposed diagonally of the longitudinal axis of the guard.

4. 111 an electricfshaver as in claim 3 and rigidrein forcing ringmembers disposed in and bearing against portions of said guard andcooperating with said housing for maintaining the guard concentricallypositioned around said shaft.

5. In an electric razor, a cutter head including a rotary driven shaft,a plurality of cutter blades, means fixed to said shaft and supportingsaid cutter blades in radially spaced relation to the shaft and incircumferentially spaced relation to one another and for slidingmovement radially of the shaft, a hollow cylindrical perforated guarddisposed around the cutter blades, supporting means mounting said guardimmovably relative to the blades, and spring means individual to saidblades for urging outer edge portions of the blades into conformableengagement with the interior face of said guard for cooperation with theperforations of the guard for executing a cutting operation when theblades are revolved within the guard, said last mentioned guardsupporting means comprising an elongated housing of openwork construction having a plurality of relatively large openings through whichsubstantial areas of said guard are exposed, bearings supported by saidhousing and journaling end portions of said shaft, said housing havingribs provided with outer surfaces of arcuate cross section definingboundaries of openings thereof and constituting skin stretching meansfor cooperation with adjacent exposed areas of the guard, said housingincluding a detachably mounted cap constituting an outer end thereof andprovided with a plurality of openings forming blower outlets, said capconstituting a blower housing, and a blower fixed to said shaftoutwardly relative to the blade supporting means for rotation in saidblower housing for expelling clippings through the outlets thereof, theperforations of the guard constituting the inlets of said blower.

6. In an electric razor, a cutter head including a rotary driven shaft,a plurality of cutter blades, means fixed to said shaft and supportingsaid cutter blades in radially spaced relation to the shaft and incircumferentially spaced relation to one another and for slidingmovement radially of the shaft, a hollow cylindrical perforated guarddisposed around the cutter blades, supporting means mounting said guardimmovahly relative to the blades, and spring means individual to saidblades for urging outer edge portions of the blades into conformableengagement with the interior face of said guard for cooperation with theperforations of the guard for executing a cutting operation when theblades are revolved within the guard, said last mentioned guardsupporting means comprising an elongated housing of openworkconstruction having a plurality of relatively large openings throughwhich substantial areas of said guard are exposed, bearings supported bysaid housing and journallng end portions of said shaft, and said housinghaving ribs provided with outer surfaces of arcuate cross sectiondefining boundaries of the openings thereof and constituting skinstretching means for cooperation with adjacent exposed areas of theguard, said first mentioned blade supporting means comprising a pair ofspiders secured to longitudinally spaced portions of said shaft andhaving radially projecting arms, the arms of the spiders being disposedin alignment and being provided with grooves in which end portions ofthe blades are supported for sliding movement radially of said arms.

7. In an electric razor as in claim 6, said arms having remotelydisposed portions disposed in abutting engagement with the ends of saidblades, and said spring means having end portions disposed in saidgrooves, bearing against and yieldably biasing the blades radiallyoutward of the arms.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS2,289,323 Dettle July 7, 1942 2,321,932 Nyhagen June 15, 1943 2,375,521Boyd May 8, 1945 FOREIGN PATENTS 427,439 Italy Nov. 20, 1947

